'Shooter' makes his mark: Ishaq stops Gallardo in style on pro debut

Photo credit: Leigh Dawney, team photographer at Queensbury Promotions. Instagram @ leighdawneysportpix

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Slough’s Hassan ‘Shooter’ Ishaq was in explosive form on his professional debut, stopping Brandon Gallardo in the third round in Bournemouth on Saturday last week (July 26)

Ishaq, 21, announced himself to the pro boxing world with an impressive display, living up to his nickname as he KO’d Gallardo with some sharp counter punching.

Fighting on the undercard of the Garner vs Belotti showcase fight, under the esteemed Queensbury Promotions banner, featherweight boxer ‘Shooter’ delivered a performance that belied his young age and inexperience in professional boxing.

From the opening bell, Ishaq showcased a combination of resilience defensive moves and sharp, slick punching combinations that should make him a difficult opponent for any fighter going forward. A particularly brutal set of blows led to the fight being stopped in the third round

It was a contest enjoyed by a large crowd that included more than 500 fans, friends and family who had made the journey from Slough to Bournemouth to support Ishaq.

They helped turn the south coast arena into a sea of support for Ishaq who repaid them with a dominant pro debut. Among those in the crowd at ringside were two of British boxing’s brightest talents, Hamza Sheeraz and Adam Azim, both close friends of Ishaq.

Their presence showed the strong sense of unity among this new generation of boxers hailing from Slough and its surrounding areas.

Hassan’s performance didn’t just catch the attention of fans in the arena, it also drew praise from one of the sport’s living legends, Roy Jones Jr who joined Hassan for his post-fight interview with Kugan Cassius of IFL TV and showered him with praise following his victory.

Ishaq’s journey to the pros began at Eddie Richardson’s Lucky Gloves Gym in 2016. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks to become a national champion, collecting numerous accolades on the way including gold at the Haringey Box Cup and NABGC Elite title.

Known for his Philly shell defence, technical style and in-fight adaptability, Ishaq is starting to garner attention in the pro game.

Now, with his first professional win behind him and a loyal but growing fan base, Hassan ‘Shooter’ Ishaq is firmly establishing himself as a fighter with real potential

Follow his journey on Instagram and X @shooterishaq to stay up to date with what’s next.